APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 (2013 - 2017) Review

As the biking audience matures, demand continues to increase for adventure bikes like this 2013-2017 Aprilia Caponord 1200. 

Early in 2012 Triumph launched its new Explorer which took the coveted MCN road test class crown. But since then Ducati has launched its new ‘skyhook’ Multistrada, the first to come with true semi-active suspension, while both KTM and BMW have introduced new models which have grabbed the MCN headlines.

• Related: Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally review
• Related: Best adventure motorbikes

KTM’s all-new Adventure came in two guises – a standard, 19-inch front wheel model and the more off-road biased ‘R’ with a 21-inch front wheel.

BMW, meanwhile, also launched a new R1200GS – its most important bike in recent years, they admit – which also comes with semi-active suspension amongst a host of updates. Even Triumph has another entrant with their tweaked Tiger Sport.

All the while, there’s been one more newcomer in the background. Until now, Aprilia’s new Caponord has gone almost unnoticed – which is a mystery considering its impressive spec.

On paper it appears formidable, capable of being the leading bike in this segment, especially when we consider price. The full spec ‘Travel Pack’ version, which includes the ADD, Aprilia Dynamic Damping (semi-active suspension), is £3000 less than the Ducati equivalent and also cheaper than a comparable BMW GS.

Not only that, but the Aprilia’s suspension is more advanced than both the Ducati and BMW, and our short test ride showed it’s very impressive, especially when ridden two-up. I’m really taken aback by how good the new semi-active suspension is. Even in cold, very wet conditions, the suspension changes were noticeable. 

Unlike the Ducati and BMW systems, Aprilia’s semi-active suspension, ADD, adjusts pre-load on the rear automatically. If you add a pillion into the mix the system measures the extra weight, then calculates and compensates by adding pre-load. It’s so clever it will actually reduce the pre-load as weight is reduced when you burn fuel from the large 24-litre petrol tank. If your other half loves shopping for shoes and sneaks a few pairs into the panniers without you noticing, the Caponord will detect the extra weight, recalculate and add more pre-load if required. How clever is that?

Like the BMW and Ducati, the Aprilia system also adjusts compression and rebound damping on the move to improve comfort. However, if you start riding aggressively the system changes the suspension to compensate and to make the ride sportier. It knows you are riding aggressively by the amount of torque requested, throttle position, speed, rpm, wheel speed, and gear. It’s all very clever - and it works. This is no gimmick.

Once you've read this review and our owners' reviews, you may want to join an online community to meet likeminded people. We'd suggest the Aprilia Caponord Owners' Group on Facebook.

On paper it appears formidable, capable of being the leading bike in this segment, especially when we consider price. The full spec ‘Travel Pack’ version, which includes the ADD, Aprilia Dynamic Damping (semi-active suspension), is £3000 less than the Ducati equivalent and also cheaper than a comparable BMW GS.

Not only that, but the Aprilia’s suspension is more advanced than both the Ducati and BMW, and our short test ride showed it’s very impressive, especially when ridden two-up. I’m really taken aback by how good the new semi-active suspension is. Even in cold, very wet conditions, the suspension changes were noticeable. Unlike the Ducati and BMW systems, Aprilia’s semi-active suspension, ADD, adjusts pre-load on the rear automatically. If you add a pillion into the mix the system measures the extra weight, then calculates and compensates by adding pre-load. It’s so clever it will actually reduce the pre-load as weight is reduced when you burn fuel from the large 24-litre petrol tank. If your other half loves shopping for shoes and sneaks a few pairs into the panniers without you noticing, the Caponord will detect the extra weight, recalculate and add more pre-load if required. How clever is that?

Like the BMW and Ducati, the Aprilia system also adjusts compression and rebound damping on the move to improve comfort. However, if you start riding aggressively the system changes the suspension to compensate and to make the ride sportier. It knows you are riding aggressively by the amount of torque requested, throttle position, speed, rpm, wheel speed, and gear. It’s all very clever - and it works. This is no gimmick.

Unfortunately, we had very poor weather during our test in Sardinia including torrential rain with rivers running across the road in places (see video on here). The result of that is that I can’t tell you how the Aprilia suspension will perform in the dry, riding aggressively with big lean angles.

However, in the wet the ride quality was very impressive. The comfort is excellent – it’s more like a luxury touring model than a ‘Street Enduro’ as Aprilia likes to call its new bike. Speed humps, road imperfections and small potholes almost disappear, to the point that it’s almost surreal. Even deliberately hitting potholes at speed didn’t jolt the suspension or cause any discomfort.

Around town, small speed humps were taken at 30mph and were hardly noticeable with the active suspension working overtime. This was amplified further with a pillion – gliding over small speed humps and potholes as if they weren’t there. There would be a slight jolt through the bars in very extreme cases, but then the rear would follow and simply glide over. There was no jolting, no bucking, it was very smooth, level and stable.

In short, the Caponord is one of the most impressive bikes I’ve ever ridden in terms of comfort and ride quality. It feels like the rear is on a magic carpet of smoothness. Even slowly dropping off a kerb didn’t cause any discomfort. You’ll never have a pillion complain again – well, maybe not. It’s just a shame we didn’t get to push the limits of the suspension in the dry.

The front 43mm Sachs forks are also semi-active – constantly changing the compression and rebound damping but not pre-load, which is conventionally pre-set by the rider. The amount of adjustment compared to the standard model is huge. The ADD system can have more than seven times more adjustment in compression and rebound and, remember, it only takes a fraction of a second to change from maximum to minimum.

Again, it was a shame the conditions were so poor because we couldn’t really test the front suspension to the maximum. You can feel the front react to road imperfections like the rear, but it doesn’t have that magic carpet feel – you still get a small jolt in extreme circumstances. However, it remains mightily impressive.

In many ways it feels like BMW’s Telelever system as it lacks dive compared to conventional forks, which in turn means it lacks a little feel. But like the BMW system it’s all about trusting the front end and tyre contact. Personally, in the tricky conditions, tip-toeing around for grip, I’d prefer a little more dive and feel.

The 90 degree 1197cc V-twin is very similar to the engine used in Aprilia’s Dorsoduro, but refined and re-mapped to give more midrange performance. Maximum power is a quoted 125bhp @ 8500rpm and maximum torque is 85ftlb @ 6500rpm.

At low speeds the big V-twin was a little snatchy below 3000rpm – such as around town in second gear.

In higher gears, or as the revs increase above 3000, it does smooth out. Aprilia are quoting 125bhp from the 1197cc, liquid-cooled V-twin, and the spread of torque is lovely. It also sounds good from the single, side-mounted exhaust, which can be raised when you remove the panniers to increase ground clearance.

There are three different engine maps: Touring, Sport and Rain, which can be changed on the move via the start button and come as standard. Rain mode limits power to 100bhp which is more than enough to have fun, and in the tricky conditions was still enough to get the traction control working if you’re brutal enough with the throttle.

The traction control system also comes as standard. There are three different traction control modes but they can’t be changed on the move, which is a little annoying. As the road dries out you have to pull over and select neutral before changing the level of electronic intervention.

Thankfully, unlike other systems, when you turn off the key it does save your last setting which I prefer rather than going back to a safe mode. You can switch the traction off entirely and a small symbol illuminates on the dash to warn you. Don’t forget: if you switch off the traction control and turn off the key, it will still be switched off when you return to the bike and start riding once again.

Mode Three is the most intrusive (ideal for the rain), Two is less intrusive, and Mode One is for perfect sunny days with lots of grip. And on the subject of grip, an ABS system also comes as standard, and is excellent, not too intrusive - and can also be switched off.

The Caponord shares a very similar motor to the Dorsoduro which has been proven over recent years without any major reported problems or nightmares. Sachs controls the suspension and electronics which have had extensive testing and should be glitch-free. Overall, the level of quality and components used is high. The only slight downfall is the amount of UK dealers for parts and servicing, therefore check where your local dealer is.

Our Aprilia Caponord owners' reviews show a very positive score, with no prevailing problems to report. 

Considering the amount of technology which has gone into the Caponord and the level of components used the asking price of just under £13,000 seems reasonable and cheaper than the comparable competition with a similar spec, like Ducati’s Multistrada which is over £15,000.

For the full spec bike with semi-active suspension you need to opt for the Travel Pack model, priced at just under £13,000. For this you get traction control, electronic suspension, ABS, different fuel maps, panniers and Brembo brakes. The standard model doesn’t come with the active suspension. The Aprilia comes with a huge 24 litre fuel tank, the largest in this segment of adventure bikes. The Caponord is also iPhone compatible with a built in USB socket and Bluetooth. By downloading an Aprilia Caponord app you can store the bike’s data, like wheel speed, rpm or the amount of traction control intervention and also watch this information live as the bike has a top yoke bracket to accommodate your iPhone. There’s also a huge list of accessories, as you’d expect for a touring model.